Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 10 November 1942
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 41-18564
Location: Mount Obree –
ÿ Papua New Guinea
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 17 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: C-47 transport planeC-47 transport plane
Category: Accident
A C-47 transport plane carrying U.S. Army troops from Wards Field to Pongani was struck by a severe down-draft over the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The aircraft impacted Mount Obree, resulting in the deaths of seven of the 23 onboard and leaving eight men with serious injuries. After 32 days, two teams of four left the crash site, seeking assistance, and the second team reached the coast on December 14, 1942. The crash site was discovered in July 1944, but all survivors had perished by then.A C-47 transport plane carrying U.S. Army troops from Wards Field to Pongani was struck by a severe down-draft over the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea. The aircraft impacted Mount Obree, resulting in the deaths of seven of the 23 onboard and leaving eight men with serious injuries. After 32 days, two teams of four left the crash site, seeking assistance, and the second team reached the coast on December 14, 1942. The crash site was discovered in July 1944, but all survivors had perished by then.
Description
The C-47 transport plane, carrying U.S. Army troops from Wards Field to Pongani, was hit by a strong down-draft over the Owen Stanley Range. The aircraft impacted Mount Obree, Papua New Guinea, killing seven of the 23 onboard. Eight men with serious injuries remained at the crash site while two teams of four left, looking for help. After 32 days two men of the first team of four found help. The second party reached the coast on Dec. 14, 1942. The crash site was discovered in July 1944 but all survivors had died by then.
Primary Cause
Severe down-draft conditions over the Owen Stanley Range.Severe down-draft conditions over the Owen Stanley Range.Share on:
